The Waze client is capable of displaying the map using various color schemes. Several color schemes are available in the client by default; users are also able to create their own custom color schemes or install custom color schemes created by others.

Waze also includes one night color scheme. This is activated by choosing "Night" mode in the Settings menu, or by leaving "Auto" enabled and using Waze at night.

Custom color schemes

A user can also create custom color schemes using a text editor.

Creating custom color schemes

Each color scheme is defined by a schema file. The schema file contains the color and size information for each road type and certain other features, such as Places, water features, map labels, and so forth.

The easiest way to create your own scheme is to start with one of the default schema files. To get to the default schema files, you'll need a file browser for your device (such as iFunBox for use with iOS devices, or ASTRO File Manager for Android).

In iOS, the day schemes are found in User Applications » Waze » Waze.app » skins » default » day and its subfolders, and the night scheme is found in User Applications » Waze » Waze.app » skins » default » night.

In Android, the day schemes are found in SD Card (or your root folder) » Waze » skins » default » day and its subfolders, and the night scheme is found in SD Card (or your root folder) » Waze » skins » default » night.

You may wish to copy both directories to your computer to make it easier.

Within the day folder, there are several subfolders. Each subfolder contains a schema file, as does the day folder itself. The schema files correspond to the default schemes as follows:

1: The blues

2: Mochaccino

3: Snow day

4: Twilight

5: Tutti-frutti

6: Rosebud

7: Electrolytes

8: Map editors

9: Green peace

10: Minimalism

11: Green fields

12: Default

day folder: Vitamin C

To edit a schema file, open it in a text editor. Each schema file is a list of parameters – most relating to color and size. Color parameters are in #rrggbb hex color format (see web colors); some color parameters have two additional digits, controlling the alpha channel (transparency) of that particular feature (#rrggbbaa).

^0 What declutter does exactly is unknown. What is ascertainable is that the declutter value is a 32-bit signed integer – the freeway type has a declutter value of 2147483647.

^1 The delta values and their corresponding colors seem to operate differently for roads than they do for areas. For roads, Color1 and Color2 are apparently drawn on top of Color, so the delta values are negative – the Color "border" is apparently actually the bottom layer. For areas, Color1 is apparently drawn only past the edge of the area, so the delta value is positive – the Color1 "border" seems to be an actual border.

^2 Oddly enough. The "airports" (actually islands) layer is the only area layer drawn on top of the sea (water) layer.

Installing custom color schemes

iOS

Note: As of iOS 8.3 it is not possible to load custom color schemes to an Apple device until Waze enables iTunes file sharing for the app.

Installing custom themes in iOS does not require replacing the default themes, so don't worry about creating a backup.

Place your custom schema file directly inside the night folder you just created.

Note that this will replace the default night theme; only one night theme can be installed at a given time.

To use an installed theme,

Day schemes: In Settings » Display settings » Map Color Scheme, select the name of the theme you replaced. So, if you placed your schema file in folder 5, select "Tutti-frutti" in the app to use your custom scheme (there is currently no known way to rename schemes in the list in the app). Also, ensure that the client is in "day" mode, or leave it in "auto" and wait until daytime.

Night schemes: Set the client to "night" mode or wait until nighttime.

You can replace a schema file for a currently-selected theme even while the client is running, but to use a new version of a theme you are already running, you have to make the client reload the theme. To do this, switch away from and back to that theme. The quickest way to do this is to set the client to day/night mode and back.

To uninstall a custom theme, delete its schema file. You can also temporarily disable a custom theme by renaming the schema file to something other than "schema".

Android

Place the new schema file in the corresponding folder, replacing (or renaming) the original file.

Alternatively you can directly modify the existing schema file (open with a text editor) with the changes you desire. You may also copy and paste the complete code of the scheme you want into the original schema file, replacing the original content.

If there are sub-folders for specific zoom levels, you will have to either remove or modify the schema files in those directories as well.

A map color scheme with a focus on contrast and definition, made by a guy that's been using various GPS systems for over a decade every day. The key is to keep the pertinent information immediately viewable, while minimizing the unnecessary information. Hopefully, this minimizes driver distraction and gets pertinent information into the driver's brain fastest and most efficiently so that he/she can focus on DRIVING.

Those of you familiar with GARMIN nav systems will immediately see similarities and will quickly be comfortable with this scheme.

A night version of the map color scheme with a focus on contrast and definition, made by a guy that's been using various GPS systems for over a decade every day. The key is to keep the pertinent information immediately viewable, while minimizing the unnecessary information. Hopefully, this minimizes driver distraction and gets pertinent information into the driver's brain fastest and most efficiently so that he/she can focus on DRIVING.

Those of you familiar with GARMIN nav systems will immediately see similarities and will quickly be comfortable with this scheme.